diff --git a/config.md b/config.md
index 4a6825bf2..a9bed2f19 100644
--- a/config.md
+++ b/config.md
@@ -840,6 +840,7 @@ Here is a full example `config.json` for reference.
                 "realtimeRuntime": 950000,
                 "realtimePeriod": 1000000,
                 "cpus": "2-3",
+                "idle": 1,
                 "mems": "0-7"
             },
             "devices": [
diff --git a/specs-go/config.go b/specs-go/config.go
index 8a0f0b8a0..54e471768 100644
--- a/specs-go/config.go
+++ b/specs-go/config.go
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ type LinuxCPU struct {
 	// List of memory nodes in the cpuset. Default is to use any available memory node.
 	Mems string `json:"mems,omitempty"`
 	// cgroups are configured with minimum weight, 0: default behavior, 1: SCHED_IDLE.
-	Idle int64 `json:"idle"`
+	Idle *int64 `json:"idle,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // LinuxPids for Linux cgroup 'pids' resource management (Linux 4.3)